Summary This position is organizationally aligned under Facility Management Service, at the VA Illiana Health Care System VA Hospital, Danville, IL. The primary purpose of this position is to perform the full range of gardening and tractor operating within the Grounds Section. Responsibilities Operate geared and hydraulic driven tractors, forklifts, skid steers, tractor mowers. Sweeps out pavement gutter areas, mulches leaves, plows/brushes/blows sidewalks and pavement areas. Trims grass and weeds with power mowers or trimmers (weed eater), trims shrubs and trees with hedge trimmers or saws. Cuts down trees using chain saw and grinds tree stumps with a stump grinder. Drives up to two (2) ton trucks and pulls two-wheel trailers to move equipment from job site to job site. In addition to operating these vehicles, the incumbent mounts and operates attachments with multiple connections for seasonal changes in the use of the vehicles. Performs all types of laboring duties to include loading/unloading furniture, loading/unloading recyclable materials containers, moving equipment, moving patient's belongings, and dumping waste containers. Laboring grounds work includes push mowing, weed eating, digging with shovels, raking, shoveling of snow, and ice removal with sand and ice melt, plowing sidewalks, tree trimming, leaf removal and all other assigned tasks Work Schedule: 6:00am-2:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Tractor Operator/PD08137A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Pre-employment physical required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/21/2024. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Related to Mobile Equipment Operation) Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles) Operation of Motor Vehicles Work Practices (Including Keeping Things Neat, Clean, and in Order) Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work requires a considerable amount of time standing, stooping, walking, and bending. The incumbent will be exposed to seasonal weather and may be required to work in inclement weather, such as snow, rain, sleet, and indoors under extreme or hazardous conditions. The incumbent will exert additional effort in operating the tractor and manipulating equipment controls to compensate for difficult terrain. Position requires frequent arm and leg movement, and lifting bags of fertilizer and seed, etc., weighing up to 100 pounds. Working Conditions: The majority of the work is performed out of doors, sometimes in extremely inclement weather. The incumbent is subject to physical injuries while operating power equipment and falls from ladders while pruning trees. The incumbent works on steep slopes and in rough terrain and may be subject to injury from falls or overturned tractors and equipment. Education Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.